# shred

/ˈʃɹɛd/ (US) · /ʃɹˈɛd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shred
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to cut into strips

verb · CEFR B2

to cut or tear something into many long, thin pieces.

For teachers: to reduce a material to long, narrow strips by cutting or tearing; often used with a direct object.

- You should shred the lettuce before adding it to the taco.
- The office manager insisted that all sensitive documents be shredded immediately to comply with the new data protection regulations.

### 2. to play music fast

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to play a musical instrument, especially a guitar, very fast and with great skill.

For teachers: to perform a solo or passage on a musical instrument with extreme speed and technical proficiency, typically in rock or metal genres.

- The lead guitarist started to shred during the final song of the concert.
- He spent years practicing scales just so he could shred with the same fluid intensity as his heavy metal idols.

### 3. to ride fast

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to ride a snowboard, surfboard, or skateboard very fast and aggressively.

For teachers: to navigate a surface such as snow or water with high speed and technical aggression on a board.

- We spent the whole weekend shredding the fresh snow on the mountain.
- The local surfers headed out at dawn to shred the massive waves brought in by the overnight storm.

### 4. a tiny amount

noun · CEFR B2

a very small piece or a tiny amount of something, like a feeling or evidence.

For teachers: a fragment or a minute quantity; frequently used in negative constructions to emphasize a total lack of something.

- There wasn't a shred of evidence to prove that he had taken the money.
- Despite the harsh criticism, she didn't show a single shred of doubt regarding her team's ability to finish the project on time.

### 5. a thin strip

noun · CEFR B2

a long, thin piece that has been cut or torn off from something larger.

For teachers: a long, narrow strip of material, typically fabric or paper, resulting from tearing or cutting.

- The cat tore the curtains into shreds with its claws.
- The explosion reduced the ceremonial banners to colorful shreds that littered the courtyard.

## Examples

- Please shred the confidential documents before you leave.
- The recipe says to shred the cabbage finely before adding it to the salad bowl.
- In the world of heavy metal, to shred involves playing extremely fast and technically demanding guitar solos, often featuring rapid scales and sweep picking.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.